Systems and methods for maintaining file-type information

Abstract

A method for maintaining file-type information for a file is described. Data in a first position of a file is analyzed. A file-type for the file is determined based on the analyzed data in the first position. The file is monitored for input/output operations. The file-type of the file is updated if input/output operations occur within the first position of the file.

1. A method for maintaining file-type information for a file, the method comprising:
 analyzing, by a processor of a computing device, data in a first position of a file, wherein the first position comprises a header of the file; 
 determining, by the processor, a file-type for the file based on the analyzed data in the first position; 
 storing file-type information for the file in a database; 
 monitoring, by the processor, the file for input/output operations; 
 identifying, by the processor, a modification to the data in the first position from the input/output operations; 
 determining whether the modification to the data satisfies a predetermined threshold; 
 maintaining, by the processor, the file-type for the file when the modification to the data in the first position does not satisfy the predetermined threshold, wherein maintaining the file-type comprises preserving the file-type information previously stored in the database and preventing the data in the first position from being re-analyzed to determine the file-type for the file; and 
 updating, by the processor, the file-type of the file when input/output operations occur within the first position of the file and the modification to the data in the first position satisfies the predetermined threshold. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing file-type algorithms to determine the file-type of the file. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the file-type algorithms comprise file-type position information to indicate the position of a file-type indicator within the file. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising storing the file-type position information for the file in a database. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input/output operation comprises a write operation to the file. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the file-type of the file to a component through a reporting interface. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein updating the file-type of the file comprises discarding the file-type information for the file previously stored in the database. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising re-analyzing the data in the first position of the file to determine the file-type for the file. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein re-analyzing the data comprises scanning the header of the file to identify file-type markers that indicate the file-type for the file. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising storing the newly determined file-type for the file in the database. 
     
     
       11. A computer system that is configured to maintain file-type information for a file, the computer system comprising:
 a processor; 
 memory in electronic communication with the processor; and 
 a file-type module, the module configured to:
 analyze data in a first position of a file, wherein the first position comprises a header of the file; 
 determine a file-type for the file based on the analyzed data in the first position; 
 store file-type information for the file in a database; 
 monitor the file for input/output operations; 
 identify a modification to the data in the first position from the input/output operations; 
 determine whether the modification to the data satisfies a predetermined threshold; 
 maintain the file-type of the file when the modification to the data in the first position does not satisfy the predetermined threshold, wherein maintaining the file-type comprises preserving the file-type information previously stored in the database and preventing the data in the first position from being re-analyzed to determine the file-type for the file; and 
 update the file-type of the file when input/output operations occur within the first position of the file and the modification to the data in the first position satisfies the predetermined threshold. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the file-type module comprises file-type algorithms configured to determine the file-type of the file. 
     
     
       13. The computer system of  claim 12 , wherein the file-type algorithms comprise file-type position information to indicate the position of a file-type indicator within the file. 
     
     
       14. The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the input/output operation comprises a write operation to the file. 
     
     
       15. The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the file-type module is further configured to store the file-type position information for the file in a database. 
     
     
       16. The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the file-type module is further configured to provide the file-type of the file to a component through a reporting interface. 
     
     
       17. A computer-program product for maintaining file-type information for a file, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:
 code programmed to analyze data in a first position of a file, wherein the first position comprises a header of the file; 
 code programmed to determine a file-type for the file based on the analyzed data in the first position; 
 code programmed to store file-type information for the file in a database; 
 code programmed to monitor the file for input/output operations; 
 code programmed to identify a modification to the data in the first position from the input/output operations; 
 code programmed to determine whether the modification to the data satisfies a predetermined threshold; 
 code programmed to maintain the file-type of the file when the modification to the data in the first position does not satisfy the predetermined threshold, wherein maintaining the file-type comprises preserving the file-type information previously stored in the database and preventing the data in the first position from being re-analyzed to determine the file-type for the file; and 
 code programmed to update the file-type of the file when input/output operations occur within the first position of the file and the modification to the data in the first position satisfies the predetermined threshold.